Jon Lester worked into the eighth inning and David Ortiz hit a two-run homer to lead the struggling Boston Red Sox to a 5-2 win over the Cleveland Indians on Thursday night.

Brock Holt hit a two-run double and Daniel Nava had three hits as the Red Sox won for just the third time in their last 10 games, a dismal stretch that began with a three-game sweep by the Indians last week.

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Coming off his shortest start of the season, Lester (7-7) allowed two runs - one earned - on eight hits and a walk with four strikeouts in 7 2-3 innings.

Koji Uehara pitched a perfect ninth for his 14th save.

Ortiz hit his 15th homer in the fifth against Josh Tomlin (4-3) to make it 3-0.